The long protest march that adopted the slogan “Let us defend Kurdistan against the Turkish occupation” – which began in Lausanne in Switzerland on 10 July – will end in a large rally today in Geneva.
Activists on the march, who are expected to arrive in Geneva in the afternoon, appealed to the friends of Kurds in Geneva to participate and provide support to the rally which is due to take place in front of United Nation’s (UN) office in Geneva.
On behalf of the Defend Kurdistan Initiative, Democratic Kurdish Society – Switzerland (CDK-S) co-chair İsmail Kardaş and Kurdish Women’s Movement – Switzerland (YJK-S) chair Selma Sürer called for active participation in the rally that will be held in front of the UN’s office.
Kurdish politicians also on the march to Geneva talked to ANF and shared their reasons as to why they have been participating in it.
The co-chair of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNC), Ahmet Karamus, stated that the Kurds reject the Treaty of Lausanne. “As the Kurds, we want to declare to the internatioal public that we do not accept this treaty and we will declare with one heart, one voice, that this treaty was signed ignoring our will,” he said.
Kurdish politician Faysal Sarıyıldız also shared the view that Turkey is seeking to prolong the Treaty of Lausanne for another century, but the Kurdish people will resist such an attempt. Zahide Efrin, a Peace Mother, stated that the will of resistance of the Kurdish mothers remains steadfast against the ongoing Turkish state linked attacks that are aimed at the invasion of Kurdistan.
“We want justice. Up until now, we have been empowered and marched with the philosophy of leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. The Kurds and Kurdistan have been around for thousands of years, but why do you keep on denying us?,” she asked.